Hope and dedication of rescuers celebrated

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP - About 100 people spent Saturday commemorating the hope and dedication of rescuers from last year's Quecreek Mine rescue.

Former Gov. Mark Schweiker, who played a vital role in keeping the lines of communication open between the rescuers, families and the rest of the world, spoke to the crowd gathered at the farm where nine miners were pulled to safety just one year ago.

Schweiker posed a question in regards to what history books will recount of the 77-hour rescue.

"What is it that they will write? What will history say?" he asked. "I believe that it will be stated in contrast to often remarkable and negative outcomes when it comes to mining accidents, at Quecreek, they all lived."

He compared that rescue to ones that weren't so fortunate nearly a century ago.

"In 1907 the worst mining accident in the history of Pennsylvania was in Westmoreland County at the Darr Mine, when 239 perished," he said. "Or, in Windber, where seven died two years later."

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He added that despite past tragedies, it is hard to forget that all nine miners underground and another nine who escapes survived.

"Thousands of Pennsylvanians have died laboring in this very difficult occupation that you and I describe as the 'World of Mining,'" he said.

"Here, a new chapter in mine rescue history was written and the heading says, 'Nine for Nine: They All Lived.'"

He attributed such an outcome to the rescuers on the surface.

"Why did they all live?" he asked. "I believe it was because of incredible teamwork and commitment and dedication and ingenuity on the part of the nine guys down below who back each other up as team mates would do and because of the 300 rescuers/teammates atop the surface who never gave up."

With that sentiment, Schweiker said they persevered, not knowing what the outcome would be.

"So, today friends, you stand atop hallowed ground in a place where 300 people gathered and for 77 hours were motivated by the perspective and the obligation to never give up," he said. "We didn't know what we were going to find. We just knew that we had a personal obligation to give it all that we could to affect a rescue."

It is a part of history, he added, a part that many will tell for years to come.

"Then finally in one of the most glorious events that you and I will ever experience and recount for your kids and grandkids, we find them and they are alive," he said. "History books will look back and at least say, in contrast to all of the families who lived the anguish and the difficulty of burying loved ones, that it was here at Quecreek they all lived."

Not only did the rescuers support each other to continue working to get the guys out, Schweiker said the support system down below was just as important.

"You will likely never know any gritty, supportive group of nine teammates than Randy Fogle and his eight people," he said. "What they faced is as tough as it gets in life, certainly as tough as it gets in the World of Mining."

He added that many felt a closeness to the miners, their families and the residents of Somerset County.

"The motivation to keep going was in large part fueled by this feeling of connection with the people of Somerset County, who have endured so much, and for that, I say thank you," he said. "I appreciate the friendship. I appreciate the support. I will never forget you."

According to former Department of Environmental Protection secretary David Hess, he received many messages about the events.

"I think the one thing that I will always remember is not only the focused determination of those people involved in the rescue, but also the messages, the phone calls and the e-mails from people all around the world," Hess said. We got one very special message that I remember more than any others."

The message was clear in linking the events of Sept. 11 to those of the rescue.

"One e-mail message caught my eye. It was something very simple," he said. "It said, 'It seemed like the angels of Flight 93 were watching over Somerset County.' They said something very simple, 'Not these men, not here, not again.'"

According to newly-appointed Director for Deep Mine safety Joe Sbaffoni last year's rescue was incredible, but not something he would like to see happen again.

"Putting those nine miners back into their loved ones' arms was probably one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my life," he said. "I hope that it is the highpoint in my career and I hope that we never have to go through it again."

Also speaking at Saturday's mid-day ceremony was David Lauriski, assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor, who announced that today (Monday) will mark the first National Coal Mining Safety Awareness Day on the anniversary of the actual rescue.

Also speaking Saturday was Robert Barrett, a former administrator of the mining enforcement safety administration under the Ford and Carter administrations and a retired VP of Wilmore Coal company, who now lives in Davidsville, and rescued miner Blaine Mayhugh of Meyersdale.